The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 20, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 30, 2002
Steven Kristofer Henning, Hudson, OH (US);
Michael Lester Kerns, Medina, OH (US);
Zhengfang Xu, Stow, OH (US);
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, OH (US);
Abstract
This invention is based upon the discovery that rubbery polymers having a high vinyl content and a low degree of branching can be synthesized with an initiator system that is comprised of (a) a lithium initiator selected from the group consisting of allylic lithium compounds and benzylic lithium compounds, (b) a Group I metal alkoxide, and (c) a polar modifier; wherein the molar ratio of the Group I metal alkoxide to the polar modifier is within the range of about 0.1:1 to about 10:1; and wherein the molar ratio of the Group I metal alkoxide to the lithium initiator is within the range of about 0.01:1 to about 20:1. These high vinyl polymers offer reduced levels of hysteresis and better functionalization efficiency. By virtue of their lower level of hysteresis these polymers can be utilized in manufacturing tire tread compounds that exhibit lower levels of rolling resistance and can accordingly be used to improve the fuel economy of motor vehicles without compromising other desirable characteristics, such as traction and tread-wear.